Determinants of Integrated Pharmaceutical Logistics System Performance in Ethiopian Public Health Facilities at Harari Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The well-functioning pharmaceutical logistics system to deliver medicines, vaccines and other health products are critical to the provision of health services. The study aims to determine the association and magnitude of determinant factors with performance of integrated pharmaceuticals logistics system among public health facilities in Harari Regional State of Ethiopia. The study used cross-sectional descriptive study and explanatory research designs and structured questionnaire were adapted from Logistics Indicator Assessment Tool (LIAT) to collect data. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the public health facility performance data and binary logistics regression was done by using SPSS version 27. Data were complemented with documentary analysis, description of internal processes and logistics registrations. Findings from this study indicate that management ownership level of the system with β value 3.961, [AOR -19.373 in 95% CI (3.765, 116.271), P = 0.001], and health facility staff skill level with β of value 2.109, [AOR - 8.241, 95% CI (3.703, 81.336), P = 0.005], have positive associations with integrated pharmaceuticals logistics system performance. But, the health facility service volume has no significant association with the performance of integrated pharmaceutical logistics system. The hypothesis proposed were accepted for both health facility staff’s skills and management ownership of the system while the hypothesis proposed for health facility service volume is rejected as it has no significant effect on the performance. The study found that the health facility staff skill and management ownership have significant effect on integrated pharmaceutical logistics system implementation. The major factors for health professional under optimal skill were poor management support, staff insufficiency, and a poor skill transfer mechanism.